The Red Pony. by Steinbeck, John

NY, Viking, 1945, first edition.. Issued without dust jacket, but with the publisher's original gray/blue slipcase, this is the first illustrated edition with the beautiful color illustrations by Wesley Dennis, it is also the first edition to include all four portions of the story, The Gift, The Great Mountains, The Promise, and The Leader of the People, this is the first issue as produced by Kipe Offset, Goldstone & Payne A9c, see Morrow 81, this copy Inscribed by John Steinbeck ("For J. C. Skakel/with regards/John Steinbeck"), the recipient was James C. Skakel, a friend of Ed Borein, Maynard Dixon, and James Willard Schultz, his daughter, the previous recipient, writes about her unusual name, "The Skakel name is rare, and most often recognized in association with my cousin Ethyl Skakel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy. Sadly, there is also recognition of my family name associated with the alleged murder my cousin Michael was charged with committing". Missing its half title leaf, else very good in a good slipcase.